Unidirectional detent gate

ABSTRACT

A unidirectional detent system for use with a flap handle to permit the setting of a variable stop for positioning of flaps for aircraft takeoff.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a unidirectional detent gate for use onan adjustable aircraft flap handle quadrant.

In the past, fixed detents have been located on the flap handle quadrantto permit the pilot to set the flap handle to a specific position foractuation of the flaps to a setting, such as 10°, 20°, or 30° down.Adjustible detents for variable flap settings are known, for example seeU.S. Pat. No. 3,710,644.

In newer aircraft, the flap controls are being designed to accomplishmore sophisticated positioning and eliminate possible pilot error. Withfixed flap detents, the pilot may not easily set the flap handle for theideal flap position. The most efficient flap setting for aircrafttakeoff varies depending upon a number of factors including aircraftload, center of gravity, temperature, altitude, wind, and runway lengthand condition.

When controls for selection of both adjustable and fixed detents areincorporated into a single handle it is possible to inadvertently selectan incorrect flap position setting.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention permits the incorporation of both fixed andmovable detent settings in a single flap handle and associated leversand helps to eliminate possible confusion in correctly selecting theproper detent. By the incorporation of the unidirectional detent gate onthe movable detent crank, the movable flap detent position can only beactivated by moving the flap handle in the downward direction. When theflap handle is in the up position and is rotated downward the detentgate on the movable detent lever opens and permits the pilot to selectthe takeoff flap position. If on the other hand, when the flaps are downand the flap handle is raised the unidirectional detent gate remainsclosed throughout the upward cycle, thus eliminating the possibility ofselecting the takeoff flap position as the flaps are being raised.

It can be appreciated that by the inclusion of the unidirectional detentgate in the flap handle controls inadvertent selection of the takeoffflap position during raising of the flaps is eliminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the flap quadrant frame, thumbwheel,adjustable gate lever, and flap handle.

FIG. 2 shows the movement of the flap lever pin in the flap downdirection, the detent gate having opened permits the flap detent pin tofall into the detent slot.

FIG. 3 shows the movement of the flap lever detent pin in the flap updirection, the detent gate is closed, forcing the detent pin to overridethe detent slot.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged side elevation view along line 4--4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows the side elevation of the movable detent crank when theflap handle is being moved toward the flap down position just prior tothe gate mechanism opening.

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6. The flap handle is being moved toward theflap up position and the detent gate is in the closed position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the flap quadrant 10 consists of a frame12 in which a bearing shaft 14 is mounted. The flap handle 16 is mountedfor rotation on the bearing shaft 14. The flap handle 16 moves in afirst plane in an arc defined by the double ended arrow 18. A right-handflap lever 20 is slidably mounted in a track in the flap handle 16. Theflap lever 20 is biased in a downward direction by coil spring 22 whichis connected between the flap lever 20 and flap handle 16 (FIG. 5).Mounted on the right-hand flap lever 20 is a detent pin 24.

In FIG. 4, the left-hand flap lever 26 is used with fixed detent slotsformed in the flap quadrant (not shown) for fixed settings, as forexample, 10°, 20°, 30°, and 40° flap. The right-hand flap lever 20 isused in conjunction with the unidirectional detent gate on the movablecrank with detent slot and is the subject of this invention.

In FIG. 2, the movement of the detent pin 24 is shown with the flaphandle (not shown) moving toward the flap down position. The detent gateor cover 28 is open, permitting the pin 24 to fall into the detent slot30 for the adjustable takeoff flap setting.

In FIG. 3, the flap handle is being moved to the flap up position, thedetent pin 24 is moving across the detent slot 30 on the detent gate 28.The gate 28 is closed, preventing the detent pin 24 from falling intothe detent slot 30 for takeoff flap setting.

Referring to FIG. 1, a thumbwheel 32 is rotatably mounted on the frame12 on a second bearing shaft 33. Gear teeth 34 are formed on a hub 36 onthumbwheel 32. A worm shaft 40 is rotatably mounted in frame 12. Gearteeth 38 on worm shaft 40 engage teeth 34 on the thumbwheel hub 36. Onthe opposite end of worm shaft 40, second worm teeth 42 engage secondgear teeth 44 on movable detent crank 46. Movable detent crank 46 isrotatably mounted on first bearing shaft 14 and moves in a second planeparallel to the plane of movement of the flap lever 16. By rotation ofthe thumbwheel 32, the movable detent crank 46 may be set.

Referring to FIG. 6, on the top of the movable detent crank 46 is adetent slot 30. The movable detent crank 46 travels in an arcrepresented by double ended arrow 18 (FIG. 1). Mounted on the movablecrank 46 (FIG. 6) is a first pivot peg 48 which is perpendicular to theplane of movement of the crank 46. A carrier 50 having a cylindricalhole therein is mounted for rotation on the first pivot peg 48. One endof the carrier engages an adjustable stop 52. This stop 52 preventsrotation of the carrier in a first counterclockwise direction. Rotationof the carrier 50 in the second clockwise direction is restrained bycoil spring 54. Adjustable stop 52 is used to control the position ofdetent gate 28 with respect to detent crank 46 and particularly detentslot 30 therein.

Mounted on the carrier 50 is a second pivot peg 56 which isperpendicular to the plane of movement of crank 46 and parallel to thefirst pivot peg 48. A detent gate 28, having two slots therein, ismounted on the first 48 and second 56 pivot pegs for vertical androtational movement. A second coil spring 58 biases the detent gate 28against rotation and vertical movement.

On flap handle 16 is a bearing mounted roller 60 which projectsperpendicularly from the plane of movement of the flap handle 16 (FIG.4). As the flap handle 16 is moved to the rear in the direction of arrow62 (FIG. 6) to activate the flaps in a downward direction, roller 60engages pin 64 on the detent gate 28. With further movement of the flaphandle 16 to the down position, the roller 60 pushes the pin 64 and gate28 in the direction of arrow 62 (FIG. 6) opening the detent gate 28enabling detent pin 24 to drop into the open detent slot 30.

If it is desired to move the flaps to a further down position, detentpin 24 may be raised out of detent slot 30 by raising detent lever 20against the bias of coil spring 22, and the flap handle 16 may then bemoved further down in the direction of arrow 62. As the flap handlecontinues downward, the roller 60 bypasses over the pin 64 on the gate28, and the spring loaded gate 28 moves to close the detent slot 30.

When the flap lever 16 is moved upward from a down position (FIG. 7), ina direction opposite arrow 62, it is desirable to have the movabletakeoff detent slot 30 covered to prevent the flap lever 16inadvertently stopping in the takeoff flap position. Movement of theflap handle 16 in the flap up direction (FIG. 7) causes the roller 60 onthe flap handle 16 to engage the backside of pin 64. With furthermovement of the flap handle 16 in the up direction, roller 60 forces thedetent gate 28 upward in a closed direction and prevents the detent pin24 from entering into the detent slot 30. Once the detent pin 24 ridesacross the closed detent gate 28 past the detent slot 30, the roller 60slides under the pin 64 and the gate 28 moves to its original springloaded down and closed position (FIG. 6). The gate can now be openedagain if the flap handle 16 is moved downward in the direction of arrow62.

In FIG. 1, the mechanism for actuation of the flaps is movable rod 66which is attached by a pivot pin 68 to flap handle 16. Rod 66 isconnected thru other rods and lever (not shown) to the aircraft flaps.

To activate the flaps for takeoff, the pilot first computes on aseparate chart the ideal takeoff flap setting. This setting is thenadjusted on thumbwheel 32 and thru gearing and worm shaft 40 adjustsdetent crank 46 and detent slot 30 to the ideal takeoff position.

The pilot then lowers flap handle 16. The movement of flap handle 16, ina downward direction, opens detent gate 28 and coil spring 22 pullsdetent lever 20 downward and detent pin 24 falls into detent slot 30.After takeoff, the pilot can raise detent lever 20, against the bias ofspring 22, which moves pin 20 out of slot 30 and then pilot may moveflap flap handle to the up or down position.

While certain exemplary embodiments of this invention have beendescribed above and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to beunderstood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of, and notrestrictive on, the broad invention to the specific desire to be limitedin my invention to the specific constructions or arrangements shown anddescribed, since various other obvious modifications may occur topersons having ordinary skill in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjustable unidirectional detent gate systemto provide variable flap settings comprising:a frame member; a bearingshaft mounted on said frame member; a flap handle mounted on said shaftfor rotation in a first plane; a movable pin mounted on said flap handleperpendicular to said first plane; a crank mounted on said shaft forrotation in a second plane parallel to said first plane, said crankhaving a detent slot in periphery thereof; gear means attached to saidframe engaging said crank to rotate said crank member in said secondplane; and movable gate means attached to said crank to cover saiddetent slot on said crank, said gate means opening in response tomovement of said flap lever in a downward direction to admit saidmovable pin on the flap handle to said detent slot and said gate closingover said detent slot when the flap handle is moved in an upwarddirection.
 2. The adjustable unidirectional detent gate system of claim1 wherein said movable gate means comprises:a retractable spring biasedgate cover overlying said detent slot.
 3. The adjustable unidirectionaldetent gate system of claim 2 wherein said retractable gate cover isrotatable between an open and closed position and spring biased to theclosed position.
 4. The unidirectional detent gate system of claim 3wherein said retractable gate cover is mounted on a pivot peg attachedto said crank and opens in a single direction.
 5. The unidirectionaldetent gate system of claim 4 wherein said flap handle has a rollermounted thereon said roller engaging a pin located on said gate cover toopen or close said gate cover in response to movement of said flaphandle.
 6. A unidirectional gate for a slot in the periphery of a basecomprising:a pivotable carrier mounted on said base, said carrierpivotable in a single direction; first spring means biasing said carrieragainst rotation; a retractable cover mounted for rotation andtranslation on said base and said carrier; and second spring meansbiasing said cover over said slot against rotation and translation. 7.The unidirectional gate of claim 6 having a first pivot peg on said basewherein said carrier is mounted on said first pivot peg for rotation ina plane parallel to said base.
 8. The unidirectional gate of claim 7having a second pivot peg mounted on said carrier wherein said cover ismounted on said first pivot peg and said second pivot peg for rotationand translation in a plane parallel to said base.
 9. The unidirectionalgate of claim 8 wherein said first spring means is a coil springinterconnected between said cover and said base.
 10. A unidirectionalgate for a detent slot on the periphery of a base activated by a rollermoving in a first plane comprising:a first pivot peg mounted on saidbase member perpendicular to said first plane; a carrier mounted on saidfirst pivot peg for rotation in a first direction in a second planeparallel to said first plane; spring means attached to said base andsaid carrier restraining rotation of said carrier in a first direction,said carrier rotation in the second direction opposite said firstdirection limited by a stop located on said base member; second pivotpeg mounted on said carrier perpendicular to said first plane andparallel to said first pivot peg; a cover having two slots thereinmounted on said first and second pivot pegs for rotation and forvertical movement; second spring means attached to said cover and tosaid base to restrain rotation and vertical movement of said cover; anda pin mounted on said cover, perpendicular to said first plane, toengage said roller in a first arc to move said cover and expose saiddetent slot, and when said roller engages the said pin in a second arcopposite said first arc, the roller forces the gate closed, providing abridge over the detent slot.